I'm John Dachshk with Henry Sikoski, the executive director of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center,

observing at the beginning of 26, nuclear weapons. The weapons are out, where, and who wants one,

and why? Henry, a very good evening to you. Several items all come together here at the beginning of

26. Let us begin with who wants a weapon that does not now have one and what the prospects are.

The first striking me is most significant is South Africa wants a nuclear weapon. Is that accurate and why?

Good evening to you.

Good evening.

Great to be on the show.

I'd say it's inaccurate, but it's in the zone.

Why?

Senior Foreign Ministry, South African official, says we can't necessarily trust the United States.

We ought to be thinking about getting our own nuclear weapon.

He makes this statement, and he's criticized roundly by everyone, and he withdraws the statement.

But you can't take the words out when they're on the floor.

They're there. He said it. I think it is a sentiment that when publicly expressed becomes a problem.

In other words, the reason everyone said you shouldn't have said that is because some of them were thinking the same thoughts, I'm afraid.

And out into the public, those words spilled.

South Africa has made itself clear these last years that it is very seriously leaning toward Moscow, Beijing.

It's a member of the bricks.

Is that a significant consideration when someone who's a weapon, which side of the fence he's on?

And thought about it.

I think having the weapon gives smaller nations more agency to talk and be listened to about

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